U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) strongly rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Kennedy argued that Israel's actions are the exact opposite of what the genocide allegations suggest.
"If Israel wanted to commit genocide against the Palestinians, it could have done so in a minute. It's exactly the opposite. The Palestinian population has grown enormously around Israel. The number of Christians in Gaza has declined by about 80% over the last 10 years. If you want to see real genocide taking place, it's not in Israel. It's happening in all the countries surrounding it."
Kennedy's remarks come amid ongoing debates over the war in Gaza, including genocide allegations leveled against Israel. A longstanding supporter of Israel, RFK Jr. argues that demographic facts contradict the claim that Israel is committing genocide.
The Data He Cited
Growth of the Palestinian Population
The Palestinian population in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has increased substantially over the past several decades. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and United Nations estimates, the population has continued to grow at a relatively high natural rate, averaging more than 2% annually, driven largely by high birth rates. The population of the State of Palestine is currently estimated at approximately 5.7 million people.
Decline of Gaza's Christian Population
Kennedy's reference is broadly accurate. According to publicly available demographic estimates, the Christian population in Gaza declined from roughly 5,000 during the 1990s and early 2000s to approximately 1,100–1,300 between 2013 and 2022. The decline has been attributed primarily to emigration, deteriorating economic conditions, and Hamas' rule since 2007, rather than solely to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The current war has reportedly accelerated that decline further.
Kennedy's reference to "real genocide" occurring in neighboring countries appears to allude to the persecution of Christian minorities, Yazidis, and other vulnerable communities in countries such as Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere in the Middle East.
The clip generated sharply divided reactions.
Supporters of Israel welcomed Kennedy's remarks, arguing that sustained Palestinian population growth undermines claims of genocide.
Critics, however, accused him of ignoring the extensive destruction in Gaza, the high death toll. Some responses also included personal attacks against Kennedy.
